The State Minister for Fisheries and Serere District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Hellen Adoa, has called on women involved in cross-border trade in Busia to prioritize family values alongside their entrepreneurial pursuits.
She made the remarks while presiding over the belated International Women’s Day celebrations in Busia District.
Speaking to hundreds of women gathered for the event, Minister Adoa acknowledged the industrious spirit of Busia women, known for their active participation in trade along the Uganda-Kenya border.
However, she urged them not to become consumed by the pursuit of money at the expense of family and community.
“Busia women are very good with business. But you must remember, money alone, without strong family values, cannot satisfy,” Adoa said.
“Let’s not neglect our homes. Raising children in a proper environment should be a priority. Those with land should take children to the gardens to learn the value of farming.”
She emphasized the importance of instilling discipline, hard work, and agricultural skills in children, noting that economic empowerment should go hand in hand with social responsibility.
“We need to nurture the next generation not only through cross-border business but also by teaching them practical life skills, especially in agriculture,” she added.
Her remarks followed a presentation by Busia Woman MP, Hon. Hellen Auma Wandera, who praised Busia’s businesswomen for their discipline and resilience.
“Many of these women were raised with good values. They are not victims of drug abuse or other destructive habits,” Wandera said.
Minister Adoa also used the platform to appreciate President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his continued support towards women empowerment across Uganda.
She highlighted initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), the GROW program, and other poverty alleviation schemes that have lifted women from grassroots to national leadership positions.
“I thank the President for opening doors for women, from the village to the top. Let’s continue supporting the NRM government, which has not only opened our borders to our neighbors but also allows free movement without the burden of a passport,” she said.
In a landmark moment during the celebrations, Minister Adoa officially launched the Busia Cross-Border Women’s Solar Drier, an innovative facility designed to reduce post-harvest losses for women traders.
The solar drier will support value addition for fruits and cereals, enabling women to access broader regional markets and strengthen their livelihoods.
“This is a game-changer. It will empower women economically, cut losses, and help them compete better in the regional market,” she stated.
The solar drier project is the latest achievement of the Busia Women Cross Border Traders Cooperative, a dynamic organization that began in November 2010 with just 46 members.
Born out of a regional training program under the Trade Facilitation Project, the cooperative has grown to include over 2,000 women today.
The cooperative emerged following research by the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), which found that women made up 80% of informal cross-border traders and contributed up to 60% of their income to family support.
However, many of these women faced abuse and exploitation, including rape, theft, and extortion as they crossed borders through informal routes.
Over the years, the Busia cooperative has made remarkable strides, including: Reducing the number of women and youth using informal and dangerous border routes by 80%, establishing a women’s desk at the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Busia and bridging the information gap by building capacity among women and youth traders.
Others include; Mobilizing rural farmers and traders to formalize businesses, pay taxes, and embrace government programs, supporting peacebuilding and conflict management efforts in border communities and organizing women with disabilities (PWDs) into cooperative groups for inclusive development.i
Minister Adoa concluded her address, emphasizing that empowering women economically must also include safeguarding their families and values.
“Let us grow as businesswomen, but let’s also remain strong as mothers, caregivers, and role models,” she said.
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